Stackable fiber drum



Apm 5h W67 P. BRACHT l STAGKABLE FI BER DRUM Filed Jan. 4., 1965 United States Patent O Delaware Filed Jan. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 423,399 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-56) The present invention relates to shipping containers and, more particularly, to an improved container end construction for use with containers of the type having a side wall made of paperboard, fiber board, or similar nonmetalllc materials. In its principal aspect, the invention is concerned with an improved end connection between the fibrous side wall and the bottom closure member of a container, which connection is not only characterized by its strength and reliability in use, but which also permits stacking of like containers on top of one another in such a manner as to ,preclude relative shifting of the stacked containers.

During recent years, there yhas been an increasing de mand for, and attendant increasing use of, nonmetallic fibrous shipping containers. Such containers are commonly used in the transportation and storage of `diverse commodities such as liquid, powdered or solid substances. However, more often than not, when storing or transporting shipping containers, there is a requirement that a given number of such containers be placed within a confined or limited surface area. Under such Circumstances it is often either desirable or essential that the containers be stacked one upon another in two or more layers, thus, insuring optimum use of the available storage space.

When stacking or unstacking such containers, or when handling a stack of two or more containers such, for example, by moving containers stacked on a pallet with a fork-lift truck, there exists a constant danger that one or more of the stacked containers will slip or shift laterally relative to the underlying container or containers in the stack. Such a danger is particular prevalent in those instances where the uppermost surfaces ofthe :lower containers in the stack are formed of metal, as in those instances where the upper closure is made of metal or where either a metallic yor nonmetallic cover is secured to the sidewall by a metallic closing ring or by a metallic reinforcing ring. Of course, the danger of slippage between stacked containers is a serious one in that it creates a hazard both for personnel and for the product or products being stored. Thus, should a stacked container slide relative to an underlying container, it may fall and injure persons in proximity thereto, or alternatively, it may rupture or be otherwise damaged, thereby increasing the danger that the contents thereof will be either lost or contaminated. Additionally, there exists a serious problem in that the falling container may damage one or more other containers d-uring its fall.

It is a general aim of the present invention to provide an improved container end construction which overcomes all of the foregoing disadvantages, yet which provides a strong and reliable connection between the sidewall and the bottom closure member of the container.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved seamed connection between the bottom member and the fibrous sidewall of a shipping container which permits stacking of similar containers one upon the other and wherein at least a portion of the seamed 3,315,865 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 connection in one container is accommodated within a complementally shaped recess at the top of a second container, thus effectively precluding relative lateral sliding movement of the two containers. While the invention will find particularly advantageous use with containers employing a fibrous sidewall or the like and a fibrous bottom closure, it will also find applicability in conjuntcion with containers employing other types of bottom members, such, merely by way of example, as metallic bottoms.

In another of its important aspects, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel reinforced connection between a fibrous container sidewall and a bottom member therefor, characterized in that the reinforcing means employed performs the dual function of resisting deformation forces at the junction of the sidewall and bottom,

while at the same time inhibiting relative lateral sliding movement between similar stacked containers. In this connection, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved end construction for shipping containers which serves to increase the stability of a vertical stack of such containers during both storage and handling thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel shipping container construction which is effective to preclude accidental dislodgment of stacked containers, yet which permits of economical manufacture from readily available materials and which does not require any additional components in order to` insure positive locked engagement between stacked containers. l

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevation on a reduced scale of a shipping container embodying the features of the present invention; and,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional View, on an enlarged scale, illustrating details of an exemplary end connection embodying the present invent-ion, and here depicting two similar containers stacked one upon another.

While the ivention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way` of example in the` drawing and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is illustrated in FIG. l an exemplary shipping container, generally indicated at 10, made in accordance with the present invention. In the illustrative device, the container 10 is shown as including a generally cylindrical sidewall 11 made of fibrous material such as fiber board, paperboard, or -other natural or synthetic materials. A bottom closure member 12 (FIG. 2) is rigidly and permanently secured to the lower extremity of the sidewall 11, as, for example, by curling, crimping or otherwise seaming the peripheral edge of the bottom 12 with the lower free extremity of the sidewall, thus forming a seamed connection generallytindicated at 14 in FIG. 2. In order to strengthen the connection 14 and prevent damage thereto as a result of rough handling or the like, the seamed connection is here reinforced by an annular metallic reinforcing band 15 which is positioned in snug surrounding relationship to the lower end of the sidewall 11.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the upper extremity of the container (here, the upper extremity of the sidewall 11 of a similar container is also reinforced by an annular metallic reinforcing band 16. A removable lid or cover 18, here having a peripherally disposed, downwardly turned skirt portion 19, is applied to the lupper end of the container with the skirt portion 19 surrounding the upper end of the container sidewall. The cover 18 may, if desired, be secured to the container in any suitable manner such, for example, as by an annular metallic closing ring 2t) which may take any of Various conventional forms well known to those skilled in the art. For example, the closing ring 20 may simply be of the expansible and cont-ractable splitring variety which employs a suitable over-center toggle clamp or the like (not shown) for effecting expansion and contraction thereof.

To provide a seat for positively positioning the bottom 12, the sidewall 11 and reinforcing band 15 are deformed inwardly so as to form a radially inwardly extending circumferential rib 21 (FIG. 2). Similarly, the upper reinforcing band 16 (FIG. 2) and the upper e-nd of the container sidewall may also be deformed inwardly to form a radially inwardly extending circumferential rib 22, thus defining a seat for a removable countersunk lid (not shown) where such a lid is used in preference to the exemplary lid 18. Preferably, the ribs 21, 22 are spaced axially inward of the respective lower and upper extremities of the container, thus recessing the closure members 12, 18 relative to the container ends.

It will be appreciated upon inspection of FIG. 2 that in those instances where the bottom member 12 is made of a material such as fiber board or the like, the peripheral edge of the bottom member, the lower extremity of the sidewall 12, and the lower extremity of the reinforcing band are crimped together to form the fold seam 14. Thus, the bottom member 12 is clamped between the reinforcing band 15 and the rib 21. However, the bottom member 12 may, if desired, be formed of a more rigid material such, merely by way of example, as metal, wood, plywood or other laminated or -nonlamin-ated material, the rigidity -of which prevents crimping the peripheral edge of the bottom member. In t-his instance, the bottom member is dimensioned to fit snugly within the sidewall 11 and is seated against the rib 21. Thus, when the lower extremities of the sidewall 1'1 and ban-d 15 are formed into a seamed connection, they engage the lower peripheral edge of the bottom and clamp the latter between the seamed connection and the rib 21. Of course, where the bottom 12 is formed of metal, it can be integral with the ban-d 15, the latter thus forming an -upturned peripheral flange portion of the bottom.

In accordance with one of the important aspects of the present invention, provision is made for contouring the bottom closure assembly so as to permit accommodation thereof within a complementary portion of the upper end of a similar container when two or more of such containers are stacked together one upon another, thus precluding accidental dislodgment of stacked containers. In carrying out the invention, advantage is taken of the fact that shipping containers of the type having sidewalls made of fibrous or similar materials are generally strengthened or reinforced by applying a metallic reinforcing band 15 thereto. To this end, the band 15 is formed with an annular depending ridge 24 which is `dimensioned so that the ridge 24 fits within the top contour of a similar container when the two are stacked together irrespective of whether the top contour of the container is defined by the removable cover 18, the closing ring 20, the upper reinforcing band 16, or simply by the sidewall 11, 11'.

In order to permit stackable accommodation of the lower end of one container within the upper end of another and similar container, the top contours of such containers may be defined by forming an annular groove 25 within the removable lid 18, the groove here being substantially complementary over at least a portion of its defining surface with the ridge 24. Alternatively, the contoured upper portion of the container may be defined by the innermost peripheral edge of the closing ring 2t) or, as best shown in FIG. 2, by both the groove 25 in the lid 18 and the closing ring 20. If no closing ring or lid are employed, of if the lid is of the countersunk type adapted to rest upon the seat defined by the rib 22, the contoured upper portion of the container may simply be defined by the upper end 26 of the container sidewall.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be observed that the peripheral edge of the bottom member 12 and the lower extremity of the sidewall 11 are enfolded by that portion of the band 15 constituting t-he depending ridge 24. Thus, the arrangement is such that the groove or nip 28 bounding the annular ridge 24 and the marginal edge 29 of the folded annular metal band 15 further compress or bite into the fibrous material of the sidewall 11 and the bottom 12,

thereby forming an improved and stronger seamed con- Y nection.

While the present invention has thus far been described in conjunction with `a container having an annular -depending ridge dimens-ioned to fit within la contou-red upper portion of a similar container, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the upper portion of such containers could be contoured so as to fit within the depending ridge on a container stacked thereon. To accomplish this, it would merely be necessary to form an upstanding -ridge (not shown) on the upper portion of each container, s-uch upstanding ridge being complementary to, and dimensioned to be received within, the depending ridge 24. The upstanding ridge could, if desired, be formed directly on the lid applied to the container. Alternatively, the upstanding ridge could be -d'ened by either the closing ring 20 or the upper end 26 of the container sidewall. IIn this instance, the upper end of the container could have a reduced diameter so as to improve the net content to overall space ratio.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that there has been described herein a simple, yet highly effective, end construction for use with shipping containers having 1ibrous sidewalls and which is characterized by its stability and which precludes accidental dislodgment of stacked containers, thereby eliminating the danger of injury to both personnel and the containers as well as minimizing t-he danger of loss or contamination of the contents of such containers. Moreover, the provision of a depending ann-ular ridge on the bottom reinforcing band and complemental to a con-toured top of a similar container not only serves to improve the stability of stacked containers, but it also enhances the strength and reliability of the seamed bottom connection.

What is claimed is:

1. A shipping container comprising, in combination, a peripherally continuous sidewall formed of fibrous material, means defining a peripherally continuous inwardly extending rib formed on said sidewall at a point spaced axially inward of the lower end thereof, a bottom closure positioned within the lower end of said sidewall and seated against said rib, a metallic reinforcing band su-rrounding the lower end of said sidewall, the lower ends of said band and said sidewall being curled together to form a seamed connection therebetween within said seamed connection engaging a portion of said bottom closure for clamping the latter between said seamed connection and said rib, said bottom closure being formed of fibrous material and having its opposite faces engaged by respective ones of said rib an-d said seamed connection whereby said bottom closure is rigidly secured in place relative to said sidewall, said band Ihaving a peripherally continuous depending ridge dirnensioned for complemental telescopic engagement with the top contour of a similar shipping container when two of said containers are stacked one upon another so as to preclude accidental dislodgment of stack containers.

5 6 2. A shipping container as set forth in claim 1 further 2,727,673 12/ 1955 Bergstrom 229-5.7 characterized in that the peripheral edge of said bottom 2,771,213 11/ 1956 Lewis 220-97 closure is `curled together with the lower ends of said 3,019,956 2/ 1962 Mu'hlhoi 220--97 sidewall and said metallic band to form said seamed con- 3107?478 1/1953 HeIlCheIt 229-5-6 necrion. 5 3,107,037 10/ 1963 Rodis-h 229-55 References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 989,574 4/1965 Great Britain. 1,650,520 11/1927 Johnson 22o-97 2,205,685 6/1940 Conner 2,2() 97 X 10 IOSEPH R- LECAIR, Plmly Examiner- 2,406,900 9/ 1946 Punte 220v-97 D. T. MOORHEAD, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SHIPPING CONTAINER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PERIPHERALLY CONTINUOUS SIDEWALL FORMED OF FIBROUS MATERIAL, MEANS DEFINING A PERIPHERALLY CONTINUOUS INWARDLY EXTENDING RIB FORMED ON SAID SIDEWALL AT A POINT SPACED AXIALLY INWARD OF THE LOWER END THEREOF, A BOTTOM CLOSURE POSITIONED WITHIN THE LOWER END OF SIDEWALL AND SEATED AGAINST SAID RIB, A METALLIC REINFORCING BAND SURROUNDING THE LOWER END OF SAID SIDEWALL, THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID BAND AND SAID SIDEWALL BEING CURLED TOGETHER TO FORM A SEAMED CONNECTION THEREBETWEEN WITHIN SAID SEAMED CONNECTION ENGAGING A PORTION OF SAID BOTTOM CLOSURE FOR CLAMPING THE LATTER BETWEEN SAID SEAMED CONNECTION AND 